"Why our Drug Laws have failed and what we can do about it" by JPGray

[sweetheart]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1566398606/ref=lpr_g_1/103-0713233-5491067?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

The author is Judge James P. Gray who's spent his career prosecuting
the american drug laws. I'm reading it now. I find that the cold
view of a legal administrator's critique is better framed than the
emotional arguments of many drugs users. This book should be essential
drugs education for anyone serious about learning the dynamics of the
reality of the war on drugs. As the author says, "Friends tell friends
the truth". This book is a truthful indictment of the drugs war.

[sweetheart]

1. This book has the best arguments i've ever read

I've advocated "harm reduction" reform in the drugs laws on blog for
over 5 years now, and this book has the best end-to-end compilation of
the rationale for intensive drugs law reform i've ever read. It is
from the skeptical POV of a trial judge, and he fully covers the
legislative folly that is today's war on drugs.

This book, were it in the hands of the right people, it could lead to
a radical and healthy re-think of drugs prohibition.

[lildreamer316]

2. I'm going to try this on your recommendation n/t

[freeEarthLove]

3. great book

great book

[mgnk99]

4. cool

sounds interesting..never really read anything on the topic of drugs before.

[dissent1977]

5. Why does it seem that some of the strongest arguments against the...

war on drugs come from conservatives? From what I can see it sounds like Gray is quite conservative. Gary Johnson and Ron Paul, who are two of the most outspoken politicians against the drug war are also conservatives. I praise people who have the courage to take on this issue no matter what their political stripe, but why don't we have more people on the left raising their voices on this? Certainly most the liberals and leftists I know think the drug war is stupid, but very few of our politicians seem willing to stand up and say as much. Of course there are notable exceptions like Dennis Kucinich, Ralph Nader and Barney Frank, but I wish there were more who would have the courage to speak out.

I am about as far left as they come, and quite frankly this is one of those issues that I have been disappointed with my fellow leftists on.